adminBlessing Malinganiza
THE football fraternity yesterday bade farewell to Simba Stars player Barnabas Mushunje.
Hundreds gathered at Rufaro to pay their respects.
Mushunje is set to be laid to rest today in Bocha, Mutare.
This is what they said:
Honey Chimutimunzeve, teammate
“We would meet during Covid-19 at the paddocks for training, he would ride his bicycle from Budiriro to come to the paddocks. He would invite me to come and play with him. I always told him that he would go far in football.”
Simba “Buju” Ndoro, Simba FC Chairman
“Everyone in Shamva is mourning, we are saddened by his death. We will be giving his wife our winning bonuses, we want to win the championship for him. We want to give her money for a project. We will continue to take care of her.”
Sweeney Mushonga, ZIFA Northern Region Chairman
“It’s a great loss for us, we’ve lost someone who had a great future in football and he made D1 football fun. He was someone whom we looked up to and we hoped that one day would play for the Warriors.”
Frank Makarati, best friend and Dynamos player
“I couldn’t believe it but it’s now a reality. We were best friends with Barna, I’m hurting and I’m hurt by his death.”
King Nadolo, Dynamos forward
“I don’t have much to say but he was someone who had confidence in himself, he was a straight talker. It hurts to lose such a young player and we have lost someone who was talented.”
Tinashe Balakasi, friend and teammate
“Barna was now like my younger brother, everyone knew us from being together. From the time he joined the team he said to me that he wants me to be a top goal-scorer and promised to help me score and he wanted to be the Soccer Star. He was someone who would tell me straight away if I messed up.
“He has left his wife alone, everyone is hurting. I’m hurt. We were supposed to play against the Golden Eagles and we had promised to beat them. He called me and told me he was coming but was running late but I didn’t know that was the last time I was speaking with him.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter